First Day Covers

  • mainlypostcards

    3540 messages

    United Kingdom

    I recently picked up a mixed lot of postcards and philatelic covers - mostly official Post Office issues, but there are some plain enveloppes that have just got 1st day of issue written on them (see example).
    Do I still list them under FDC's or should they go under "covers" in the relevant era?
  • xtf70

    1490 messages

    United Kingdom

    I recently picked up a mixed lot of postcards and philatelic covers - mostly official Post Office issues, but there are some plain enveloppes that have just got 1st day of issue written on them (see example).
    Do I still list them under FDC's or should they go under "covers" in the relevant era?
    • Created on Jul 29, 2010 at 4:07 AM
    • #292034
    As long as they are posted or cancelled on the first day of issue then they are First Day Covers

    In times past almost every Post Office had a special posting box for first day covers, which received a generic special 'first day' cancel, but until these came into general use (or places where the facility was not available) it was common practice to prepare a cover like the one shown and send it to yourself through the ordinary mail - try this now of course and it will probably end up with an unreadable ink-jet smear, orange bar-code lines and possibly a Biro cancel as well!
  • mainlypostcards

    3540 messages

    United Kingdom

    As long as they are posted or cancelled on the first day of issue then they are First Day Covers

    In times past almost every Post Office had a special posting box for first day covers, which received a generic special 'first day' cancel, but until these came into general use (or places where the facility was not available) it was common practice to prepare a cover like the one shown and send it to yourself through the ordinary mail - try this now of course and it will probably end up with an unreadable ink-jet smear, orange bar-code lines and possibly a Biro cancel as well!
    • Created on Jul 29, 2010 at 5:01 AM
    • #292043
    Thanks XTF
  • xtf70

    1490 messages

    United Kingdom

    Thanks XTF
    • Created on Jul 29, 2010 at 6:00 AM
    • #292050
    Just a thought Marianne, if you don't know the dates of issue for checking covers then a copy of Gibbons' GB Concise Catalogue will help you; it doesn't need to be completely up-to-date so an older (ergo cheaper!) copy will suffice

    If you have any 1937 Coronation covers you have to be especially careful, as many were sent out days or even weeks after the issue date, also some issues were a day or two after the 'official' release date of 13th May

    And you thought postcards were confusing?
  • mainlypostcards

    3540 messages

    United Kingdom

    Just a thought Marianne, if you don't know the dates of issue for checking covers then a copy of Gibbons' GB Concise Catalogue will help you; it doesn't need to be completely up-to-date so an older (ergo cheaper!) copy will suffice

    If you have any 1937 Coronation covers you have to be especially careful, as many were sent out days or even weeks after the issue date, also some issues were a day or two after the 'official' release date of 13th May

    And you thought postcards were confusing?
    • Created on Jul 29, 2010 at 6:52 AM
    • #292056
    I tend to stay well away from stamps/philately, because it's like a minefield to me.
    However, this came as a mixed joblot of postcards and covers; just like the previous lot of fdc's that I listed April/May time.

    I think there's a few New Zealand 1937 Coronation covers in amongst them - the rest is 60's onwards GB.

    I'll keep beavering away at them a few at the time.

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